Virtual Christmas Cards: Personal, Fast, and Lightweight

Digital doesn’t have to feel generic. Use a strong photo, a short real message, and keep the file easy to open on phones.

Design for screens

• Portrait or square; 1080–2048 px long side; under ~2 MB.
• Legible fonts; avoid tiny scripts.
• Leave breathing room; don’t cram text.
• sRGB color; JPG/PNG without heavy compression artifacts.

Messages that feel human

• “You kept us close this year. Merry Christmas and thank you—call us Sunday?”
• “Sending warmth from our home to yours. Grateful for you in 2025.”
• “No mailbox, just our favorite photo and a big Merry Christmas!”

Photo prep

• Clear, window-lit photo; declutter background.
• If messy: upload and generate 18 polished scenes in 60 seconds—pick one, export web size.
• Keep faces/text away from edges if adding type.

Sending etiquette

• Send individually or in small groups; add one personal line.
• Avoid autoplay audio; keep links optional (QR to album/video).
• Provide alt text: “Family of four by the tree, smiling.”

Timing

• Send between Dec 15–22; if late, pivot to New Year’s wording.
• One gentle follow-up only for close friends/family (“Did this come through?”).

Hybrid approach

• Mail a small batch to elders; send virtual to everyone else.
• Use the same photo for both; export 5x7, 300 DPI for print and 1080px for digital.

Digital cards land when they’re light, personal, and easy to view. Keep it human—and let AI polish the scene if your space isn’t ready.